Last week I received the following message from our new neighbours: “Would you like to come over for a wine (or some beer)?” This might seem like a totally innocuous question. Normal even. But it left me feeling quite angry. Why? You might ask. Because drinking is so acceptable, ‘normal’ in our culture, that anything …
I don’t know about you, but I have noticed that most of the time I am living up in my head. In other words focusing on doing, planning, ruminating and sometimes not being really present when my kids or partner are talking with me. It is actually not a nice feeling. Pretty numb. Feels like …
One of the great things about having lived in a few different countries is that you have friends all over the world. One of the not so great things about having lived in a few different countries is that you have friends all over the world. It is obviously wonderful in so many ways to …
I don’t think I am alone, but sometimes it feels lonely. Maybe that’s life. We all feel lonely sometimes. But the pandemic has certainly heightened and exacerbated any loneliness or isolation we might have felt beforehand. As Sheryl Paul so eloquently puts it: “There’s a fundamental loneliness that is part of the fabric of being …
We have just been fortunate to go back to our native UK (well native for my husband and I at least) since the pandemic started. About 20 months since we last saw our parents, my siblings, niece and nephew. It felt weird planning to go and constantly preparing ourselves that it might not happen due …
There is no place like home – but where is home? Read More »
So I haven’t written the blog for quite some time now and decided that today was the day to start getting back into the rhythm of it again. The past several weeks have been hectic as we have bought a house (yippee after renting for 10+ years!) and had quite a lot of stuff to …
Being a parent we have to deal with 101, sometimes 1001 transitions a day with our children. Whether it is getting them up and to school or childcare in the morning, moving them from technology to the dinner table or the bedtime routine to name just a few. These all require a lot of patience …
As an expat mum over the last 13 ½ years I have been fortunate enough to explore the possibilities of how to use my own time. I have been a mum of two too, so it has not all been lunches out and sipping cocktails by the pool, but there has been a degree of …
So, we have just put down a deposit to buy a house here in Spain. For us – the husband, two kids, dog and I to live in. Forever (as much as forever can be). How exciting, you might say, especially after renting and living abroad as an expat for so many years. Finally being …
Learn Spanish: Whether you are living abroad as an expat in Spain, South, Central America or the US, plan to live overseas or just want to learn Spanish for fun, we have some tips for you on some easy and tried and tested ways to do just that. Learning the language certainly helps with day …
How to learn or get Spanish Lessons free (or cheap!) Read More »